Sometimes we need other people’s words
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” —Roger Caras
Photo by Franca
Just as dogs seem to embody all that is best in man—faithfulness, love and patience—poetry can capture the best of our thoughts. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to put into words what we’re feeling.
Fortunately, other people may have already done it.
Conversations With My Old Dog is one of those wonderful resources in which our feelings have already been captured and made to line up. Upon realizing his beloved Labrador Retriever, Lucy, was beginning to fail, author and psychologist Rob Pasick spent a year recording his thoughts as he spent time with her. While he does write about his dog dying, poems also include more hopeful topics, such as a moment of peace in the chapter, Is This Not Happiness?
Is This Not Happiness?
Is this not happiness? The sun sets as Lucy sleeps by my side.
Is this not happiness? I crave a sweet and find one helping of Ben & Jerry’s buried behind a bag of frozen soup vegetables.
Is this not happiness? A moment of peace with my Labrador Retriever, as I await my family’s return home to eat the meal I have prepared.
By Rob Pasick
Conversations With My Old Dog can be purchased from this web site or through Amazon.com.
